Different Kinds of Falcons With Pictures

A migratory bird found in eastern Europe and Asia, wintering in Africa. Males have blue-grey plumage and orange legs, while the female has orange tones. Its diet consists mainly of large insects, small mammals and birds. It captures its prey using a characteristic gliding flight. They are medium sized, but have long wings relative to their body. Their common name derives from the brightness of their feet.

Learn more about other types of diurnal birds of prey with our guide to the largest eagles in the world.

A rare and medium-sized type of falcon species that lives mainly in Australia and Tasmania. It prefers arid and semi-arid areas. Its name derives from its gray plumage, but it has striking yellow legs and beak. Thier population range has shrunk considerably and are considered ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN.

A medium-sized bird of prey that breeds on Mediterranean islands, especially in Greece. There are two plumage morphs, one a sooty brown with black coverts and the other has buff underparts and a paler base. Its diet consists primarily of large insects and migratory birds, which it captures in flight.

Another medium-sized type of falcon, this bird of prey is found on islands and cliffs in northeast Africa, ranging from Libya to Israel. It has a blue-grey plumage provides its name as it is similar to the ashes you would find in a chimney flume. Its diet is mainly based on birds, although it also consumes large insects such as dragonflies.

Learn the difference between dragonflies and damselflies with our related guide.

You may be able to see a pattern in the common names of the different types of wild falcons and the orange-breasted falcon is not an exception. Named after the rust colored plumage seen on its chest and legs, this medium-sized bird is found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. It has strong talons for catching birds in flight, but kills with its beak like other falcons. It prefers wooded environments and occupies a distinct ecological niche from the peregrine falcon.

Learn about one of the habitats of the orange-breasted falcon with our article asking what is the Gran Chaco?

Instead of being named after their plumage coloring, the bat falcon is named after one of its favorite prey animals. It is also known to eat other birds, as well as large reptiles and small rodents. It is a tropical resident that lives in Mexico, Central, and South America. It has a dark plumage and a distinctive orange belly, similar to the orange-chested falcon. It hunts from conspicuous perches where it can swoop down for the kill.

A small type of wild falcon, this one breeds in southeastern Siberia and northern China. Its plumage is gray and brown, with white and mottled underwings. Its bill and legs are yellow or orange. Its diet consists primarily of insects, with a certain preference for termites.

Learn about another predator fond of termites with our article asking what is a numbat animal?

As you can see in the picture below, the brown falcon is a type of falcon with brown plumage. It also has some mottled white feathers, especially on the underparts and around the face. They are a relatively large type of falcon and are said to sometimes start fires to help prey on animals.

A bird of prey that lives in India and sub-Saharan Africa, this type of falcon prefers semi-deserts and savannas. They have a distinctive reddish-brown head with gray back, wings and tail. It feeds on birds, bats and insects, hunting in agile flight. They usually hunt in pairs, showing their expertise in coordinated strikes.

A type of falcon endemic to New Zealand, it is considered the only remaining native raptor of this country. It inhabits bushland and rugged mountains, hunting primarily in flight at high speeds. It has mottled brown plumage and feeds on birds, displaying aggressive behavior when defending its territory.

A medium-sized bird that lives in western North America, ranging from Canada to northern Mexico. It is a large type of falcon with gray-brown, spotted plumage. It feeds mainly on small mammals and birds, hunting in rapid flight. While it is similar to the peregrine falcon, it can be differentiated from its flight patterns and its distinctive call. They are also more opportunistic in terms of diet.

Another type of falcon native to Australia, it lives in open grasslands and northern forests. As its name suggests, its plumage is dark. It has pointed wings that allow it to fly rapidly. Its diet consists mainly of birds, lizards, quail and rabbits. Their numbers are unfortunately declining.

Also known as the gyr, the gyrflacon inhabits the Arctic coasts and mountains of North America, Europe, and Asia . The picture shows a bird with lighter plumage, but it is variable plumage, ranging from white to dark brown. This is a type of falcon that feeds mainly on birds and small mammals and nests on cliffs.

A medium-sized bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeastern Europe and Asia. Their plumage varies from grey to greyish-brown, but they have darker feathers on the dorsal side. It feeds mainly on birds in flight, hunting in horizontal pursuits. They have distinctive mating rituals which involve synchronized movements between males and females.

Discover more about falcon mating with our article asking how do birds reproduce?

One of the most famous types of wild falcon, its notoriety is partly because it is a cosmopolitan species that inhabits areas as distant as the Arctic tundra and the tropics. Its has blue-gray plumage and striped white underparts. Its legs, beak and eye contour are a bright yellow, as can be seen in the picture below. It feeds mainly on birds in flight, reaching speeds of over 200 mph (320 kph).

This type of wild falcon lives from northern Mexico to southern South America. It has dark blue-gray or brownish plumage and cinnamon-colored underparts. This type of falcon feeds primarily on insects and birds. It frequently hunts its prey in flight.

Another type of falcon often confused for the peregrine falcon, this bird of prey breeds from eastern Europe to Manchuria. It has brown and gray or white plumage and feeds mainly on rodents and birds, hunting in open grasslands. It is migratory, wintering in various regions of Asia and Africa.

Also known as the jugger, it is a medium-sized bird of prey found in the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions of Iran and Afghanistan. It resembles the peregrine falcon, but is darker brown, even with darker plumage on its legs. It feeds on birds and small vertebrates. Sadly, its population has declined dramatically.

If you would like to learn something about nocturnal birds of prey, you can discover more with our article on the difference between true owls and barn owls.

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